Do we need 12-speed groupsets?
With SRAM having launched the first 12-speed mountain bike groupset and Campagnolo having filed a patent for a 12-speed road cassette, do we really need 12-speed groupsets for road bikes

Over the past three decades the number of sprockets on a bicycle cassette has grown from six, to seven, to eight, nine, 10, and 11.
But the trend for more and more sprockets shows no sign of stopping, with SRAM release its 12-speed Eagle groupset for mountain bikes in 2017, and Campagnolo looking like it could be about to launch the first 12-speed groupset for road bikes according to a patent filed in the United States last year.
>>> Are single-ring chainsets the future?
The advantages of having more cogs in your cassette are relatively obvious: you can have a wider-ranging selection of gears, meaning less shifting on the front chainrings (an approach that SRAM has followed with its Eagle groupset which has only a single front chainring), and you can have less of a jump between the gears on the cassette to ensure a smooth pedalling cadence as the terrain changes (an approach that Campagnolo looks to be following with its 12-speed patent).
Already, the introduction of 11-speed cassettes has all but killed off the need for triple chainsets, which were introduced to provide lower gears. Now it is common to find cassettes fitted on road bikes that go as low as 32-teeth, coupled with a 34-tooth inner chainring. And you can still have a 50t chainring and 11t highest gear at the back for those fast descents.
Pros and cons
The disadvantages of increasing cassette size are perhaps slightly less obvious. Despite manufacturers reducing the physical width of the sprockets on the cassette, the gaps between them and the width of the chain, the width of the cassette has slowly crept up.
However, the distance between the dropouts on frames has not changed. The only way to accommodate the larger cassette is to ‘dish’ the rear wheel, so that the spokes on the drive side are shorter from the hub to the rim. This has certain strength implications; as you may remember from your school physics lessons the strongest shape is an isosceles triangle with equal angles at its base. Rim manufacturers have experimented with ways around this — some using offset spoke holes to reduce the effect of dishing.
>>> Should you worry about chainline efficiency?
Having less of a gap between sprockets is a double-edged sword when it comes to shifting performance. Less of a gap means less leverage needed to ship the chain from one cog to another. But that also means that there is less tolerance to misaligned derailleurs, sticky cables and worn chains. Of course, this isn’t an issue with the new breed of electronic gears that auto-adjust themselves.
Another drawback is that it’s tricky to upgrade. You cannot simply slap an 11-speed cassette on a 10-speed bike, and the same would be true of 11 to 12-speed. A new shifter and swap to a narrower, compatible chain and chainrings to achieve an efficient drivetrain.
Watch: Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 review
One on the back, one off the front?
Weight is also an issue — more sprockets means more metal. This weight gain has been largely negated over the years with the use of lighter materials, and careful drilling and machining of parts to lose mass, but in some instances this has had a negative effect on longevity.
>>> Is the compact chainset dead?
Bikes with two or more chainrings will have a crossover of gears: the lower selection of gears when in the large chainring is equivalent to the higher selection of gears in the small chainring. This is to give you a wide spread of gears no matter which chainring you are in.
SRAM has a selection of single-ring groupsets designed for road bikes, having previously introduced them for the mountain bike and cyclo-cross markets. This single-ring set-up at the front has weight and mechanical benefits, both in terms of the missing ring and also the missing gear shifter and cable, although it can never replace the full range of gears in a double-ring set-up. Maybe this is where the appeal of a 12-speed cassette really comes in.
Our take
None of the big drivetrain manufacturers has a 12-speed road groupset on the market, as there are still gains to be made in honing the performance of current 11-speed set-ups and in further development of electronic gears. However, the prospect of ditching mechanically inefficient front chainring shifts in favour of a lightweight, wide-ranging 1x12 set-up is an enticing prospect for some applications.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
-
Who's leading the Giro d'Italia 2023 after stage 16?
Geraint Thomas reclaims the race lead
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
'It's nice to be back in pink': Geraint Thomas returns to lead at Giro d'Italia as GC battle finally catches fire
Ineos Grenadiers rider will try and leave it all on the road in the days ahead after he climbs back into pink jersey
By Adam Becket • Published
-
What are hookless rims and do you need them?
With the big wheel brands launching new rims with straight sidewalls, we ask whether hookless technology can benefit your bike riding
By Simon Smythe • Published
-
Do you need indoor cycling specific clothing?
With an ever expanding range of indoor cycling kit available, we ask if it really makes any difference?
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan • Published
-
Is a stiffer bike really faster?
We take a closer look at one part of the holy trinity of frame design
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan • Published
-
Will swapping your chain lube make you faster?
Chain lube is coming of age - we explore some of the newest creations
By James Bracey • Published
-
How do you choose the perfect rim depth for you?
If money were no object, we'd all have a wheel wardrobe full of options. But for most of us, compromise is essential.
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan • Published
-
Can you trust repaired carbon bike frames?
It’s possible to darn a sock, but is it similarly feasible to weave back together broken carbon-fibre threads, asks Stuart Clapp
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan • Published
-
What’s the best tread pattern for winter?
With rain, frost and a heightened amount of detritus now decking the lanes, Simon Smythe researches the right rubber for winter riding
By Simon Smythe • Published
-
Are handbuilt wheels still worth buying?
Simon Smythe weighs up the pros and cons of getting your hoops made to order
By Simon Smythe • Published